Latest news with #RavenSoftware
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Phil Spencer favourite Hexen returns in new Nightdive remaster compilation
Developer id Software has re-released two of its classic shooters on modern platforms, as Doom: The Dark Ages gets a new mode. The original Doom might be considered the defining pioneer of the first person shooter genre, but some of its imitators also helped evolve the classic formula. One of the most significant was 1994's Heretic, published by Doom creators id Software and developed by Raven Software – who now work on the multiplayer modes for Call Of Duty. The shooter took all the elements of 1993's Doom and added a fantasy setting, interactive environments, online multiplayer, and the ability to look up and down. It was followed by sequel Hexen: Beyond Heretic in 1995, which threw in character classes and larger hub levels. If you fancy an interactive history lesson in these two classic shooters, with some new perks, id Software and Nightdive Studios have partnered up on a new remaster. Although for some reason it doesn't include the 1997 sequel Hexen 2. As announced at Quakecon, Heretic + Hexen is an updated collection featuring both spellcasting shooters. Each game has been revamped for modern platforms, with an enhanced soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult, online cross-platform multiplayer across deathmatch and co-op, in-game mod support, and new accessibility options. The package includes Hexen's expansion, Deathkings Of The Dark Citadel, and two new 'episodes' created by id Software and Nightdive Studios, entitled Heretic: Faith Renewed and Hexen: Vestiges Of Grandeur. If you never played the original games you might recognise Hexen as one of the retro T-shirts Xbox boss Phil Spencer has worn in the past, which many fans took to be a clue about a new entry. Spencer has mentioned the series a few times but it's very unlikely he was ever hinting at this remaster, since that was back in 2023 – before Microsoft laid of thousands of developers. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Anyone who already owns Heretic or Hexen will receive a free upgrade to the collection, which is a nice reward for long-time fans. You'll also still be able to access the old versions even if you upgrade, if you prefer to fully immerse yourself in the 1994 vibe. Heretic + Hexen is available across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC for £13.49. It is also available on Xbox Game Pass. Elsewhere at Quakecon, id Software announced a new update for Doom: The Dark Ages. Beyond quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes, the update adds a new mode called the Ripatorium, where you can customise a chaotic encounter with enemies in an arena. More Trending You can pick the stage, music, the type of enemies you'll face, the number of waves, a time limit, and the difficulty level, among other options, with more additions promised in future updates. Two new Doom Slayer skins are also available for a limited time. A Quakecon skin can be redeemed by playing Doom: The Dark Ages between August 7 and September 1, while if you complete three arenas available in the Riptorium, you'll unlock the Perfection skin. If you haven't yet picked up the sequel to Doom Eternal, Doom: The Dark Ages is currently 25% off across all platforms until Wednesday, August 13. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Nintendo rips off Playdate console in patent for new Switch 2 accessory MORE: GTA 6 cost might surprise fans as Take-Two boss talks 'fair price' MORE: Battlefield 6 already filled with cheaters as beta beats Call Of Duty records
Engadget
5 days ago
- Business
- Engadget
Raven Software gets its union contract with Microsoft three years after voting to organize
Employees at Raven Software, known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise, finally have a union contract with Microsoft . This happened nearly years after quality assurance (QA) workers at the company voted to unionize . Workers voted unanimously to ratify the first contract between the company's Game Workers Alliance-CWA (GWA-CWA) members and Microsoft. This contract includes a guaranteed 10-percent wage increase over two years, along with additional raises through "merit and promotions." It also eliminates crunch time, with a requirement to give employees seven days' notice for mandatory overtime. There will be no excessive overtime on back-to-back weeks and "no mandatory overtime of any duration for the majority of weeks in a quarter." The contract also mandates a "fair promotions process" along with expanded disability accommodations. Finally, there are a spate of layoff protections, including severance, recall rights, COBRA subsidies and career transition services. As previously stated, these workers voted to unionize three years ago. At the time, it was the first union at Activision Blizzard or any major US publisher. This was before Microsoft scooped up Activision . The past three years have been fraught for Raven's QA workers. An investigation found that Activision had been withholding raises from unionizing workers and the company's top brass were accused of "bad faith bargaining." Workers at ZeniMax, another company owned by Microsoft, secured a contract in June .
The Verge
5 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Finally a contract for the one that started it all.
Posted Aug 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM UTC Finally a contract for the one that started it all. Workers at Raven Software have finally secured their first union contract winning for its members guaranteed wage increases, protection against mandatory overtime known as crunch, and more. The win comes three years after quality assurance workers at the Call of Duty support studio organized the Game Workers Alliance in collaboration with the Communications Workers of America. The GWA would become the first union organized at Activision Blizzard before Microsoft acquired the publisher in 2023. The organization efforts at Raven heralded a string of unionization drives within Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, and beyond. Raven Software Workers Secure First Contract at Microsoft [ Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Ash Parrish Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Ash Parrish Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Entertainment Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Labor Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
All rewards in the Black Ops 6 CODtoons event and how to get them
Image via Raven Software Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is keeping the fans entertained through its zany and colorful CODtoons challenge. The time-limited campaign has a variety of unique rewards, all with an aesthetic that is focused on cartoony art, giving the game an otherwise gritty edge. Cosmetics are aplenty, including weapon blueprints and exclusive operator skin designs, and both casual and hardcore players should have something to enjoy. By completing some tasks in multiplayer and Zombies modes, players will be able to unlock every object. This paper discusses all the rewards and describes the means through which they can be received before the game ends. CODtoons Event Rewards and How to Unlock Them Unlock Animated Speed Lines Camos FAST… (Easy CODToons Challenges) - Black Ops 6 Season 4 The CODtoons Black Ops 6 effort contains a combination of cosmetic products unlocked via theme-based in-game missions. These obstacles cut across various game modes and are more difficult as one advances up the progression trail to premium rewards. A breakdown of the rewards and their requirements is done as follows: CODtoons event rewards list: " Toon Takedown" Calling Card How to unlock: Get 50 kills using SMGs in multiplayer. " Sketchy Combat" emblem How to unlock: Complete 10 matches in any mode; also, no win is required. Weapon sticker'Blast Frame' How to unlock: Achieve 25 critical kills in Zombies. Animated player icon'Cartoon Carnage' How to unlock: Land 3 headshots in a single match, five times. 'Ink storm' weapon charm How to unlock: Finish 15 multiplayer matches with at least 10 kills. 'Cell-shaded chaos' weapon blueprint (SMG) How to unlock: Complete all 5 challenges above. Operator Skin – 'Toon Terror' (Final Reward) How to unlock: Finish the full CODtoons event progression track. Tips for completing the challenges efficiently: Try playing objective-based modes, such as Domination or Hardpoint, for more action matches. In Zombies, upgrade your weapon early to make censorious kills easier. Stack up with your squad to breeze through match count goals. The Black Ops 6 CODtoons event offers an engaging visual experience and a compelling gameplay challenge. Every reward is linked to groups of simple goals that encourage diverse play styles, which are measured by having the players play through different parts of the game. Players will want to finish the event challenges before the limited-time window expires, as there are exclusive cartoon-style cosmetics on the line. Not only will entering the CODtoons help beef up your in-game loadout, but it will also be a way to display your commitment to taking it seriously, while having a blast doing so in animated form. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Microsoft has laid off more employees since 2023 than population of this country
Microsoft is reportedly firing 9000 employees which is roughly 4 % of Microsoft's 228,000‑strong global workforce. The latest round of cuts follow the massive layoff in May when around 6,000 jobs were slashed. In the past few years, the tech giant has been riding a dramatic wave of workforce reductions tied to its aggressive pivot towards artificial intelligence (AI). If you add up the numbers, Microsoft has terminated more employees over the past three years than the entire population of an island nation near New Zealand. Microsoft reported nearly $70 billion revenue and $26 billion net income in its latest quarter.(Ronny Hartmann/AFP) During January 2023, the company initiated a major lay‑off affecting 10,000 positions. Additional smaller cutbacks—1,000 in summer 2024 (Azure) and 650 in late 2024 (Xbox)—bring the cumulative total to more than 27,000 roles lost since 2023. By comparison, an island nation comprising nine islands in the Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu, had an estimated population of just 9,500 in 2025. Microsoft's job cuts therefore exceed two and a half times the size of Tuvalu's entire population. Mobile finder: Nothing Phone 3 launched in India Why is Microsoft shedding so many roles? The company cites its plan to streamline middle‑management layers, cut redundant positions, and redistribute resources towards its ambitious AI investments, particularly in cloud infrastructure, data centres, and Copilot deployments. CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood emphasised the need for 'operational agility and high‑performing teams' as the tech giant positions itself for long‑term growth. Despite the scale of the cuts, the financial outlook remains robust. Microsoft reported nearly $70 billion revenue and $26 billion net income in its latest quarter, buoyed by an anticipated 14 % year‑on‑year growth in Azure and software subscriptions. Human cost remains steep. Teams across engineering, gaming (Candy Crush's King, Raven Software), sales, support, and management have felt immediate impact, with around 15,000 roles lost in 2025 alone . Although Microsoft offers internal redeployment opportunities, many affected staff face uncertain futures amid the company's transformative shift. By the numbers: -10,000 jobs cut in January 2023 -6,000 jobs in May 2025 -9,000 jobs in July 2025 -Plus 1,650 across mid-2024 -27,000+ total In essence, Microsoft has shed more positions in three years than there are people in Tuvalu, spotlighting the stark human dimension of its quest to dominate the AI landscape.
